I am sure that we will all be using Lithium Ion batteries in the near future, but for now I believe that the cost outweighs the benefit. A 50Ah LiFePO4 battery runs about $400, and will weigh in at about 16 lbs. That is four times the price of an EastPenn ETX30L AGM battery, which weighs 23 lbs., only 7 lbs more. That's weight difference is inconsequential on a touring bike. Granted a LiFePO4 battery will start the bike faster, and may even last longer, but I doubt it will last 4x as long. You will probably also need a new charger/ maintainer for the LiFePO4 battery.

In the future I would make the switch, when technology is up even better, and cost comes down even more.

 

Not sure I see a benefit myself for a Li battery- Weight savings mean nothing to me on a #900 bike. I got 5 years out of the HD AGM battery that came with the bike, I would hope to get at least that out of the AGM I replaced it with.

Interesting to me that you're supposed to use a special charger for Li batteries, but don't have to modify the bike's charging circuitry.

 

This 5 pound, 540 CCA for my bike is $296.
Shorai

 

If memory serves... Big Crank is simply a rebranded Deka battery. Deka also produces the HD batteries.

Deka has a good rep. I've had good success with mine.

 

My local Family Farm & Home store sells Deka batteries. When choosing between batteries that will fit your bike, make sure you get the one with the highest CCA rating.

 

World Superbike and Motoamerica racers use Speedcell - USA made and 3 year warranty. Comes in racing connector configuration
for external charging that's easily adapted. Comes in three sizes - 2.5AH, 5.0AH and 7.5AH - with largest for touring bikes and weighs
2.5lbs. Here - https://www.motomillion.com/products...t=592866934798

Factory Ducati, KTM and Kawasaki Superbikes use Skyrich - Chinese - as their OEM battery. They are available in numerous sizes
and like most are smaller than a conventional AGM battery.. Number 20 size / Softails - https://shopping.shadetreepowersport...ce-hjtx20ch-fp

Same battery rebranded -
The charger you'll need - yes, they are different so don't be fooled -
Whatever you do don't buy an old tech lithium battery that's prone to overheating and exploding like a WPS - get the LiFePo - lithium, iron, phosphate
design.

 

Yuasa = good. Never had a problem with one.
Interstate = bad. Two in a little over 3 years.

 

That's where I've been getting my Dekas from. A battery for my Dyna was around $80.00.

 

+1 on Deka. This is where I get mine. you can find a code for an even cheaper price.

https://www.techbatterysolutions.com...RefineBy_2835=

I hope this helps.

 

You bring up an excellent point as to why a special charger is needed but HD's conventional charging system works fine. The reason
is because when LiFePo batteries voltage gets below 11.4 volts a stepped charging sequence must be used to keep from damaging
it. When lithium batteries are charged to a voltage above that level they are very tolerant of charging voltage swings.